NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program

What is the goal of the NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program?

The NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program provides global leadership for research, training, and education programs to promote research in the areas of HIV-related heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, as well as blood-based therapies. The NHLBI believes that critical research in these areas will result in discoveries that enhance the survival and quality of life of patients living with HIV, and may also lead to knowledge that benefits all patients with heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders.

The following NHLBI Divisions work together on the NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program.

The Center for Translation Research and Implementation Science (CTRIS) leverages late-stage T4 translation research and implementation science strategies to address barriers that impede the scale-up and application of scientifically proven interventions in community and clinical settings for the prevention, control, and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders in people living with HIV.

AT A GLANCE

The trans-NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program facilitates innovative research on HIV-related heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders and the evolving challenges for HIV-in

This program supports HIV-related research in children and adults because this infection can cause cardiovascular disease (CVD) to develop earlier in life.

The Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV (REPRIEVE) is informing clinical approaches to prevent CVD in patients with HIV.

Why is the NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program important?

Tremendous progress in the treatment of HIV has led to increased survival and a dramatic evolution of the disease. Trends over the past decades reveal that overall individuals are living longer with HIV. As a result, the challenges have now shifted from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, to other chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and chronic anemia. Multiple studies have shown that people living with HIV have a significantly higher risk of developing heart, lung, and blood conditions and that these conditions may develop earlier in patients with HIV compared to the general population.

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Because patients with HIV are living longer. new research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of chronic infection, inflammation, and use of antiretroviral medications in these patients. The NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program also supports research on the effects of HIV in children and young adults.It is important to include children in research because cardiovascular risk factors are known to develop earlier in children who have HIV.Children who have HIV are also at risk of developing cardiomyopathy.

How does the NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program contribute to scientific discoveries?

The NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program funds a wide range of HIV-related heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders research, such as these:

How is the NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program conducted?

This trans-NHLBI program funds innovative research that responds to the evolving challenges of HIV. The NHLBI HIV/AIDS Team coordinates all HIV-related research in heart, lung, blood and sleep, including translation research and implementation science. The NHLBI held two working group meetings, one in 2012 and one in 2015, to identify research priorities. The Institute has since developed various initiatives to support research targeting HIV-related priorities.

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The NHLBI identifies key HIV-related research priorities in the areas of heart, lung, blood, and sleep science in part by convening HIV/AIDS Working Group meetings. The most recent Working Groups include:

The December 2015 Working Group meeting where top scientific priorities were discussed for heart, lung, blood, and sleep research related to HIV/AIDS, such as research on epidemiology, disease processes, prevention, control, and treatment of HIV-related comorbidities. View the detailed recommendations from the 2015 meeting.

Based on the recommendations of the HIV/AIDS Working Groups, the NHLBI has developed dedicated HIV-related requests for applications (RFAs) that highlight the scientific opportunities in the HIV field related to heart, lung, blood, and sleep science. View funding information for NHLBI HIV/AIDS program research.

Who are the current NHLBI HIV/AIDS team members?

Contact information for NHLBI HIV/AIDS Program team members is available in the areas of heart, lung, blood, and sleep research; biostatistics; clinical research; translation research; implementation science; and grant management.

Researchers have begun enrolling participants in a multicenter international clinical trial to test whether statin administration can reduce the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart disease, in people with HIV infection. The trial is supported by the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart,...